Amazon now offers same-day delivery service

Amazon has introduced a new same-day delivery service for customers in select cities and areas. The e-commerce company will offer their new "Local Express Delivery" option to customers in Baltimore, Boston, Las Vegas, New York, Philadelphia, Seattle and Washington, as well as some surrounding areas. It will expand to Chicago, Indianapolis, and Phoenix in the coming months.

Naturally, this comes at a cost. Amazon Prime members (those who pay $79 per year to receive unlimited two-day shipping), will have to pay $5.99 per item for the service. Regular old non-Prime customers can expect to pay $15 or more, and can view a full rate chart here. Along with the additional expense, all customers must place their orders by a defined cutoff time, which ranges from 10AM to 1PM depending on the city -- regardless of membership status.

Amazon has also expanded its Saturday Delivery options, which means that items ordered with two-day shipping before the cutoff time Thursday will be delivered on Saturday instead of Monday. This is an extension of the standard two-day option, making it free for Prime members, and the usual price for everyone else. Saturday Delivery is also available for orders placed before the cutoff on Fridays at a cost of $6.99 per item for Prime members, and other customers will have to pay $3 on top of standard overnight shipping rates.